WLC 9800-L reset to factory default

[Manish Manwal]

Hi, i need to reset cisco Wireless lan controller  9800-LF. 

Is the below commands work for WLC having version 17.4.*???

1. Enter reset system at the command prompt.
   
   
2. At the prompt that asks whether you need to save changes to the configuration, enter Y or N. The unit reboots.
   
   
3. When you are prompted for a username, enter recover-config to restore the factory default configuration.

[marce1000]

 - Ref : https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/9800-L/installation-guide/b-wlc-ig-9800-L/overview.html
 >...Table 2
 >...

13

Reset button Pushing the Reset button for less than 10 seconds will reload the controller. Pushing the Reset button for more than 10 seconds will erase the startup configuration in NVRAM of the controller.                                                                           (the above being the same as factory reset)

[Manish Manwal]

Thanks! The issue is i am working as a offshore so i have no physical access of the device. 

[marce1000]

 - If privileged (remote) CLI access is still possible issue the command write erase and restart the controller ;  if not and the box hangs for instance, then someone will need to execute the procedure mentioned in my first reply  manually ('with hands....'_)

 M.

[Leo Laohoo]

To factory-reset a WLC, try "factory-reset config".

[Rich R]

> 9800-LF IOS-XE 17.4:

"factory-reset config" doesn't look like a valid command @Leo Laohoo ?
9800-17.6#factory-reset ?
all All factory reset operations
keep-licensing-info Keep license usage info
switch Switch
9800-17.9#factory-reset ?
all All factory reset operations
keep-licensing-info Keep license usage info

Here's the official documentation:
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/9800/9800-L/installation-guide/b-wlc-ig-9800-L/m_factory_reset.html

I've not tried it myself but I have seen some people mention that it may also erase the boot variable so if you have more than 1 IOS on the flash it might load the first one it finds rather than the one you were using before so watch out for that - you might need to set the boot variable to the correct value again after the reload.  Use "show bootvar" before you wipe it to check the current value.

Also note that IOS-XE 17.4 was a limited support release which you really should not be using - it will never get any bug fixes!
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/ios-nx-os-software/ios-xe-17/eos-eol-notice-c51-2442351.html
Refer to the TAC recommended releases link below - current 17.9.4 + SMUs + APSPs

ps: @Manish Manwal the commands you mentioned are for the old WLCs which run AireOS.

[Leo Laohoo]

Thanks for that @Rich R. 

@Manish Manwal, use the command "wr erase" to delete the config.  Do not forget to delete the VLAN DB.

[ersin.arslan]

WLC#factory-reset all
The factory reset operation is irreversible for all operations. Are you sure? [confirm]
The following will be deleted as a part of factory reset:
1: All writable file systems and personal data
2: OBFL logs
3: Licenses
4: Userdata and Startup config
5: Rommon variables
6: User Credentials
The system will reload to perform factory reset.
This operation can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 3 hours
DO NOT UNPLUG THE POWER OR INTERRUPT THE OPERATION
Are you sure you want to continue? [confirm]

WLC#show version
Cisco IOS XE Software, Version 17.03.04c
Cisco IOS Software [Amsterdam], C9800 Software (C9800_IOSXE-K9), Version 17.3.4c, RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)